Geopolitical Speakers

Bronwen Maddox

The ex-Wall Street and City analyst joined The Times as US Editor before taking over as CEO of Prospect magazine and Director of the Institute for Government. Now head of the world renowned Chatham House think tank, Bronwen helps business and policy makers navigate the geopolitical waters. As well as analysing the trends shaping anything from finance to defence, she explores how to govern a divided country and how to solve the big problems besetting Western democracies.

Robert Guest

Robert is The Economist’s Deputy Editor. Previously he was US editor, business editor, Washington correspondent and Lexington columnist covering American news and politics.

Zanny Minton Beddoes

Zanny worked for the IMF on Africa and Eastern Europe, before joining The Economist in London as emerging markets correspondent. She was also responsible for the US edition’s global economics coverage. Zanny analyses whether the US is likely to remain the world’s dynamo, or whether today's recovery is built on an unsustainable pile of debt. She offers up-to-the minute insight on anything from job creation to the deficit's effect on global interest rates and potential financial regulation.

Brett Bruen

Having served as a diplomat and foreign service officer for the US State Department, Brett was appointed to the White House as Director of Global Engagement under the Obama administration. With a wide-ranging view on political and diplomatic relations around the world, as well as America's role internationally, he now considers the key issues any organisation needs to prepare for. Additionally he looks at how to plan for the unexpected, the effects of policy shifts, what effective leadership looks like, and how to assess risk whether it's cybersecurity, ethics, or market fluctuations.

Jean-Claude Juncker

After becoming the EU's longest-serving head of goverment as Prime Minister of Luxembourg for 18 years, Jean-Claude Junker was elected President of the European Commission. A key figure in the Maastricht Treaty and the euro, he led the Union's executive body during one of its most eventful periods, encompassing challenges such as the refugee crisis and, most notably, the UK's departure from the EU.

Rt Hon Lord (William) Hague

William served as Party Leader, Commons Leader and Foreign Secretary – contending with war in Libya, terrorist threats, and relations with Europe. He weighs up the impact of Brexit, China, the invasion of Ukraine, and inflation on government policy, national security and globalisation. How will political leaders respond to the key challenges: from migration and populism to Putin's aggression and Xi Jinping's attitude towards tech and trade battles?

Justin Webb

Before he joined the Today programme, Justin spent almost a decade in the US as the BBC’s Chief Washington Correspondent. He also co-hosts the BBC podcast Americast, and writes about the US for The Times. He explores the key differences and misunderstandings when it comes to Trump and US-UK-Europe relations, and considers leadership and leaders on all sides, with stories from behind the scenes in broadcasting and in the corridors of power.

Rt Hon Lord (George) Robertson

After serving as Defence Secretary, Lord Robertson led NATO during a period of profound change in international relations. He later combined commercial roles with companies including BP with continued involved in geopolitical affairs from post-Brexit UK-France security relations to the goverment's Strategic Defence Review.

Gordon Corera

Gordon Corera has spent over two decades covering intelligence, national security, cybersecurity and risk. As BBC Security Correspondent he has reported from all over the world, explaining the complex worlds of espionage, terrorism and geopolitics. He combines access to some of the most secretive organisations and agencies in the world with an ability to make complex, sometimes troubling information relevant, accessible, and even entertaining, as heard in The Rest is Classified podcast.

Dr Pippa Malmgren

Since serving in the White House, Pippa has founded an advisory firm, co-founded a robotics company, and written bestsellers on the world economy and leadership. She's advised the UK Department of International Trade and the MoD, as well as investors, policy makers and startups. She identifies actionable trends by weaving together geopolitics, technology, policy and economics. Pippa describes herself as an unusually optimistic economist.

Professor Stephen Chan

A leading authority on international politics and relations, particularly involving China, Africa and the West, Stephen advises governments, businesses and NGOs around the world. He's advised the Foreign Office, and worked with the State Council of the Chinese Prime Minister. He served as a member of the Africa-China-US Trilateral Dialogue to establish trading rules and is widely credited with greatly contributing to the understanding of international politics in general, and African politics in particular.

Rt Hon Rory Stewart

Before serving as a cabinet minister, Rory governed two Iraqi provinces, set up a charity, trekked across Afghanistan, and lectured at Harvard. Now a writer, academic, and leading political commentator, together with Alastair Campbell he hosts The Rest is Politics.

Hon Julia Gillard

As Prime Minister of Australia, Julia revamped education at every level, expanded access to healthcare across all ages and oversaw major investment into telecoms and broadband infrastructure. She is now Chair of the Wellcome Trust, the world’s second largest charitable funder of medical research into improving human health. Julia draws on her time in office to cover lessons on leadership, diplomacy, gender equality and mental health, while also highlighting the Trust’s work in combating climate change and preventing the spread of infectious disease.

Tim Marshall

Tim is a journalist, broadcaster and bestselling author who has written and reported widely on foreign affairs, international diplomacy, and post-war geopolitics. He started his broadcasting career at LBC and reported for the BBC, before moving to Sky News, where he worked as a Foreign Affairs Editor and Diplomatic Editor. He has reported from over thirty countries, covering the events of twelve wars and various conflicts.

Lyse Doucet

One of the BBC’s most widely respected journalists, Lyse has covered some of the most tumultuous events around the world, from the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan to the Arab Spring uprisings and the war in Ukraine. Despite the conflict and terror, she’s an unshakeable optimist, seeing the humanity and unity of people in the toughest of circumstances. She analyses the political and social uncertainty the world faces, and considers the nature of risk. She also reveals the lighter side to reporting from some of the world’s most dangerous places.

David Rennie

David has worked for the Economist for over a decade, living around the world and gaining a uniquely international perspective on global issues. After a period based in China as Beijing bureau chief, he returned to London to serve as the publication’s Geopolitics Editor.

Lord (Kim) Darroch

With a diplomatic career spanning over forty years, primarily focusing on national security issues and European policy, Kim has now retired from frontline diplomacy but maintains a keen view of relations with the US and the geopolitical uncertainty affecting everything from trade to military conflict to democracy.

Professor Ngaire Woods

Economist Ngaire is the Founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford University.

Rt Hon Sir James Cleverly

In a career spanning the military, business, and local and national politics, James is one of a handful of politicians in history to have served as both Foreign and Home Secretary. Serving through some of the most tumultuous times domestically and internationally, James has a unique insight into the workings of politics and diplomacy, strategy and decision-making. He explores what good and bad leadership looks like, the risks of success, and what the future holds for UK, European and global politics.

Sir Richard Moore

As Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (MI6), Sir Richard led the organisation through a period of intense geopolitical volatility, strengthening international partnerships, engaging more closely with the private sector, and championing innovation and diversity. Previously, he served as British Ambassador to Turkey, Deputy National Security Adviser, and Political Director at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. He shares rare insights into global risk, trust, strategy and leadership under complexity and uncertainty.